NJ Transit Will Offer “Early Getaway” Service To Help Thanksgiving Travelers

STATE – NJ Transit will offer expanded “early getaway” rail and bus service on Wednesday, Nov. 24, to help Thanksgiving holiday travelers reach their destinations. Customer service representatives and volunteers will be deployed at major facilities to assist customers throughout the holiday period.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is typically the Newark Liberty International Airport rail station’s busiest day of the year, with ridership levels about twice that of a typical weekday.

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On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, NJ Transit will add extra trains and buses to the schedule in the late morning hours to accommodate customers traveling to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Then on Friday, Nov. 26, traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, enhanced bus service will be offered to shopping centers throughout New Jersey and additional trains will operate to and from New York.

For the Thanksgiving holiday, NJ TRANSIT’s Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult, will be in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24 until 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29.

NJ Transit offers the following travel tips:

Check Schedules in Advance: Additional service will be provided on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Plan your trip online to take advantage of extra trains and buses.

Travel Early on Friday: On Friday, NJ TRANSIT rail lines will operate on a modified weekday schedule with additional trains during the late morning hours. Avoid the crowds by traveling during the traditional peak-period (6-9 a.m.) when ridership is light.

Ticketing: Purchase round-trip tickets at the start of your trip to speed your return. Use ticket vending machines or see a ticket agent, if available, to avoid possible surcharges. Bus customers departing Port Authority Bus Terminal are reminded that tickets must be purchased before boarding the bus.

Luggage: Travel as light as possible. Passengers with luggage or packages should use the overhead racks or designated luggage spaces. On multilevel trains, customers with large bags should use the mezzanine levels at the ends of each car.

On Wednesday, Nov. 24, trains will operate on a weekday schedule on all lines (Friday schedule on Atlantic City Rail Line) with additional “early getaway” service from New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal starting at 1 p.m. on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines. Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line will operate on a weekday schedule. Buses will operate on a weekday schedule, with additional buses providing early getaway service on select routes from the Port Authority Bus Terminal starting around 1 p.m.

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule (Sunday schedule on Atlantic City Rail Line). To accommodate customers traveling to and from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, NJ Transit will add extra trains on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex and Port Jervis lines. On the Montclair-Boonton Line, service will operate on a weekend schedule between Bay Street Montclair and Hoboken, with connections at Newark Broad Street. Newark Light Rail and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule; River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. Holiday bus schedules vary by route—bus customers are advised to check their printed timetables or click here for schedule information.

On Friday, Nov. 26, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, trains will operate on a modified weekday schedule on all rail lines with additional New York-bound trains between 10 a.m. and noon on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Morris & Essex lines. Customers are encouraged to travel early, if possible, when ridership is light. Note that some early-morning trains will not operate on Friday, due to expected light ridership. Use the NJ Transit website’s Station-to-Station Trip Planner to find trains on Friday. Newark Light Rail and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule; River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. Holiday bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to check printed timetables or click here for schedule information.